Self-adjusting valve for regulating the admission of air to fan-blowers



, F. s. BARNARD.

I Damper. No. 6,820. Patented Oct. 23, 1849.

HE nares PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK S. BARNARD, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

SELF-ADJUSTING VALVE FOR REGULATING THE ADMISSION OF AIR TO FAN-BLOWERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 6,820, dated October 23, 1849.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FREDERICK S. BARN- ARD, of the town of Zanesville, inthe county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful self-acting and self-adjusting valve for regulating the admissionof air to fanning-mills and other articles and steam, water, or air towheels to be propelled or for other purposes or for regulating thedischarge of fluids, which invention is described as follows, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of thisspecification.

Figure 1, represents a plan of the valve. Fig. 2, a view of the valveinverted. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a portion of the stationaryparts of the valve showing the case, &c., the plate in which thedischarge openings are made and the inclined conducting plates. Fig. 4is a perspective view of I the'movable plate or winged portion of thevalve showing the. axle, hub, wings, and cut off plates.

The same letters of reference in the several figures refer to likeparts.

A, represents the cylindrical case in which the valve turns or moves thesegment of a circle according to the pressure of the fluid passingthrough the valve.

B, is the end plate of the aforesaid case (A), containing four, or anysuitable number of segmental openings C, through which the fluid is toenter or escape.

D, are the stationary resisting plates against which the fluid presses,causing it to be condensed between said plates (D), and the movablevalve plates E forcing said valve plates (E), around the segments of acircle carrying with them the cut off portions F of the valve plates Ewhich reduce the openings (C), in the end plate of the case (A) throughwhich the fluid passes.

G is a central hub to which the valve plates E, F are aflixed.

H are the axles of the hub.

I is a circular plate secured to the sta' tionary resisting plates (D)by the tenons J on the ends of said plates (D), in the center of whichplate (I) is an aperture to admit one end of the axle (H), the oppositeend of said axle H, turning in a similar aperture in plate B.

K is a circular box containing a helical spring L having one of its endsmade fast to a cylindrical block M, slipped upon the square part of theshaft H, the other end of said spring L, being fastened to the inside ofthe said circular box K, so that as the box is turned to the left thespring is wound upon the cylindrical block M, aforesaid by which theforce of the spring may be increased at pleasure for allowing a greaterquantity of fluid to pass through the segmental openings 0 at a givenpressure of fluid.

N, is a spring dog attached by one of its ends to the circular plate I,having its loose end made in the form of a tooth so as to enter a notchor hole, of a series, in the periphery of the circular box K to preventthe box from turning when set in the required position to give thenecessary force to the spring. The circular box has a round openingthrough its center to admit the cylindrical spring block M to passthrough and turn therein when the valve moves, said circular box Khaving a circular flange on its circumference which turns against thecircular plate I; which flange also turns under and against the heads ofscrews P inserted into the fixed circular plate for the purpose ofkeeping the box against the said circular plate.

The valve as above described is more es pecially adapted for a machinefor fanning and separating light seeds from chaff and dirt and forassorting and separating seeds wherein a regular and uniform column ofair is desired and Which this valve when inserted in a proper manner inthe fan case will produce by having the usual openings for theintroduction of air at the axles of the fan closed.

The manner in which the valve acts when thus placed is as follows. Theusual fan, by its rotary motion, drives the air by centrifugal actionfrom the fan case through the eduction tube against the descendingcolumns of seed, &c., to be separated and cleaned, and at the same timecreates a partial vacuum within the case which is instantly supplied bythe rushing of'the air through the valve which has been previously setsoas to admit it at the required velocity. Should the action of the fanhave a tendency to admit the air too freely'then the valve will turnslightly and close partially the segmental openings in the end of thevalve case. and thus partially to shut off a and again open thesegmental plates to the degree at which they were set.

WVhen the valve is used as a governor or regulator for the admission ofsteam which operates upon the valve by its rushing properties as Well aspressure from its expansive force the axle to which the spring isapplied must be extended through the induction pipe to a box out of thereach of the steam. A cord weight and pulley may be substituted for thespring to act on the axle, which will operate with greater certainty.

Likewise when this valve is used as a governor for the admission anddischarge of water the extended axle, cord weight and pulley may besubstituted for the coiled spring, or a simple lever and Weight may beused in combination with the axle to restore the valve to its requiredposition.

The principle on which this Valve works is to lessen or decrease thearea of the openings in the end plate of the valve case against whichthe cut off plates move for decreasing or increasing the quantity offluid or steam passed through said openings by the action of the fluidor steam in its passage through the case on the turning valve and thusto lessen or decrease the motion of the machinery to be acted on by thefluid or steam and thereby govern or regulate the action of the parts ofthe machine.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-The combination of the case of resisting plates D and mortised end plateB with the turning valve E, F, when made with radial Wings F andsegmental cut off plates F retained in its required position by aspring, or by a weight, cord, and pulley, or other mechanicalequivalent, said valve operating substantially in the manner and for thepurposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDK. S. BARNARD.

Witnesses LUND WASHINGTON, REUBEN CHALFANT.

